Dr. h.c. Sonia Picado
Sonia Picado graduated in law at the University of Costa Rica in 1968. At present she is President of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights as well as President of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Torture. She represented her country in various human rights bodies such as the United Nations Advisory Board Trust Fund on Human Security, the Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, and the Board of Directors of the Institute for Women, Law and Development in Washington D.C.
1980 - 1984
Dean of the Law School, University of Costa Rica (First woman elected in Latin America)
1984 - 1994
Executive Director of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights
1985 - present
Professor at the Interdisciplinary Course of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights
1988 - 1994
Judge and Vice-Chair of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
1992 - 1994
Representative of Costa Rica on the Experts Committee for the Promotion of Human Rights in Central America, Commission of European Communities, Brussels, Belgium
1993
United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
1994 - 1998
Ambassador of Costa Rica to the United States of America
1999 - 2000
President of the International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor
Awards:
Ms. Picado was honoured with numerous awards for her human rights commitment. In 1993 she received the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.
Publications:
Ms. Picado has written numerous academic articles focusing on human rights.
[June 2011]